Manufacture of inner tubes



Aug. 18, 1931. P. w. LEHMAN MANUFACTURE OF INNER TUBES Filed Nov. 1119262 Sheets-Sheet 2 PAUL W LEHMHN ln ven-l-er Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITEDSTATES PA ENT oFFIc E' PAUL W. LEHMAN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNORTO THE FISK RUBBER COMPANY, OF CHICOPEE FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS, ACORPORATION OF 'MASSAe CHUSETTS MANUFACTURE OF INNER TUBES Applicationfiled November 1, 1926. SeriaLNo. 145,662.

This invention relates to devices for handling mandrels or poles uponwhich inner tubes have been formed preparatory to vulcanization. Moreparticularly it has for its object the provision of means forautomatically removing the mandrels from the conveyor coming from therolling tables and means to receive them in spaced relation and positionthem so spaced in readiness for further operations, as for instance, tobe placed in a wrapping lathe Where the ends of the tubes are bound tothe mandrel with strips of tape in the usual manner.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of myinvention Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of the device on line 11 ofFigure 2,

Figure 2 is a front elevation,

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 2, V

Figure 4 is a side view on a larger scale of the mandrel receivingtrack,

Figure 5 is a detail of one of the spacer members, showing the reverseside from that of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a section, on a larger scale, taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates a conveyor upon which themandrels with the tubes positioned thereon are brought from the rollingtables. This conveyor may be of any suitable type and driven in anyconventional manner. At the point where it is desired to discharge themandrels I provide a substantially rectangular frame 2 includinguprights 3 to which are secured a channel 4 forming a support for thebelt 1, see Figure 3. Vertically above the conveyor and suitably securedto uprights 3 is an angle bar 6 to which are secured hangers 7supporting vertical bearing 8 for swinging arms 10.

The free ends of these arms are bent downwardly as shown in Figures 2and 3, and are provided at said ends with mandrel engaging rolls 11. Asbest shown in Figures 1 and 3 these rolls are normally positioned at therear side of the conveyor and are adapted to be swung across theconveyor in unison to move a mandrel transversely'from the conveyor by arod 12 pivotally secured to arms 10 as at 14'. The forward end of rod 12is provided with a downwardly projecting plate 15 which, as best shownin Figure 3, is positioned adjacent conveyor 1 and in the path of themandrels supported thereon. As the conveyor advances the mandrel, theforward end of the latter engages plate15 moving it to the left as seenin Figure 2, thereby swinging arms 10 and rolls 11 across the conveyor,as indicated in Figure 1, to discharge the mandrel from the conveyor.Rod 12 and the'associated parts are returned to normal position'byspring 16 secured to the rodand upright 3. r v

After discharge from conveyor 1 the mandrels are received on slopingtracks 18 which are preferably covered with rubber or other suitablematerialas indicated at 19. to prevent scratching or other injury to themandrels. Tracks 18 are in the formof angle irons and are secured to theframe 2 by means of bolts 20 and spacing collars 21, see Figure 6. T 4

Since the unvulcanized tubes on the mandrels are tacky it is desirablethat they be kept separated as they accumulate on tracks 18. This'isaccomplished by automatically acting spaced members generally indicatedat 25. These comprise generally triangular shaped members provided ontheir inner faces with webs 26 forming a triangular seat permittinglimited rotation about triangular pins 27 secured to plate 28, thelatter bolted or otherwise secured to tracks 18.. Pins 27 are providedwith circular heads 29 and the members 25 are loosely held in place bycotter pins 30 passing through webs 26. The end of members 25, towardthe conveyor 1, are provided with upstanding lugs 31. As shown in Figure3 and at the left of Figure 4 the Weight of lugs 31 normally depressthat end of spacer members 25 to the limit permitted by wedge pins 27 Asclearly shown in Figure 3 tracks 18 slope slightly from the conveyor 1and as the mandrel is discharged from the conveyor it rolls against theupstanding end of members 25 tilting them to substantially horizontalposition and passing on to the succeeding ones until its move ment isarrested by stops 33 secured at the ends of tracks 18. WVhen thusbrought to rest as shown at the right of Figure 4 the weight of themandrel maintains the spacer in substantially horizontal position withlug 31 preventing the next mandrel from coming in contact with the firstand in turn holding the lug, 31 of the spacer on which it rests inposition to prevent the advance of the succeeding mandrel. lVhen themandrel adj acent stop33 is removed for wrapping or any other operation,the spacer upon which it rested returns to normal position permittingthe preceding mandrels to move forward in succession. As will be evidentfrom the preceding description the operation of the spacers isautomatic, permitting the advance of the mandrels as required and at thesame time maintaining the mandrels in proper spaced relation. I claim:v

' 1. A device of the character described comprising a conveyor foradvancing a mandrel in the direction of its length, pivoted armsnormally positioned at one side of the conveyor, a-plate positioned inthe path of the advancing mandrel and adapted to be displaced. thereband link mechanism operatively connecting said plate and said arms tosimultaneously swing said arms across the conveyor to transversely movea mandrel therefrom upon displacement of said plate.

2. A device of the character described comprising inclined tracksadapted to support a series of mandrels and spacer membershavngoinverted vrshaped bearings resting on wedge-shaped trunnions topermit a limitedpivotal movement, said members normally permitting amandrel to advance thereover, but operative by the weight of a mandrelpositioned thereon to prevent advance of a succeeding mandrel until themember is released by removal of its supported mandrel.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to the above specification.

. AUL w. LEHMAN.

